BYLAWS AND GROUND RULES

All Divisions

1. No alcoholic beverages or tobacco products are allowed at any Little League activity.  Managers, please be sure that your parents and spectators are aware of this.
2. Little League Baseball is dedicated to helping children become good citizens. Our goal is to teach Little Leaguers the value of teamwork, discipline and good sportsmanship. Profanityor any other verbal abuse will not be tolerated.
   1. All Managers/Coaches/Players and Spectators are subject to immediate ejection.  If a person is ejected, they must leave the facility immediately. (Sight & Sound)
   2. Physical Abuse- Will not be tolerated and be cause for immediate ejection.  The Board of Directors will review the matter and take action as deemed appropriate.
   3. Board Members- All Board Members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner that reflects positively upon the Board and FLL.
   4.  All disciplinary actions will be done in accordance with Little League Constitution, Article III, Section 4.
   5. No Pets/Animals permitted on any facilities utilized by FLL due to insurance policy. (Assistance Dogs Excluded as permitted by law).  This includes practices.
   6. Division Alignment (Team numbers may be adjusted depending on enrollment):

Divisions will be broken down by age as follows;

Tee Ball 5-6, AA 7-8, AAA 9-10 and Majors 11-12, Juniors 13-14-15, however, due to special circumstances and with the approval of Parents, Player Agent, and League President, a player maybe moved up or down depending on playing ability/ experience.  If an older player is moved down, it shall be due to inability and/or inexperience, not out of convenience.

1. All Managers, Coaches and Umpires MUST attend a Coaching clinic sponsored by the District Administrator or Little League Baseball, Incorporated, prior to the start of the season.
2. All Managers, Coaches and Umpires should attend the FLL sponsored First Aid/CPR clinic or provide current certification of minimum Basic First Aid and C.P.R.
3. Volunteers- Each year, All FLL volunteers MUST complete and submit a volunteer application along with copy of an approved Government Identification PRIOR to participating in any Local League activity.  This is MANDATORY    
4. Registration- Each parent/guardian must submit proper documentation recognized by Little League showing their legal residence establishing eligibility within FLL boundaries.  Registration fees will only be refunded prior to the date of ordering uniforms.
5. Disputes/Complaints- All Disputes should be sent to the Board of Directors or delivered in person to a Board Meeting.  Member bringing the Dispute/complaint shall be informed of the Board’s decision as soon as reasonable, whether in person at the meeting or in writing.
6. Protests-Any protests must be done in accordance with Green Book Policy (4.19).
7. A minimum of One Coach is required to be in the dug-out at all times with a maximum of 3.  Non Official Team personnel are not permitted in the dug-out during play.  A Team Parent does count as a coach.
8. All Players should be encouraged to participate in the FLL sponsored fundraiser.  If a parent does not wish to participate, an additional $28 opt-out shall be charged during the registration process.
9. No persons shall use FLL equipment for personal use (Non team sanctioned practices or games).

Tee Ball Division

1. There shall be no Minimum number of players required for an official game.  Coaches are permitted on the field in an advisory role to assist players.  Coaches will act as Umpires.
2. A game will consist of no more than SIX (6) innings, with no inning beginning after 1 Hour and 30 minutes.  No score shall be kept.
3. All roster players will bat, constituting a half inning.  If a batter/runner is declared out, they must leave the field of play.  Each Inning the batting order shall be reversed.  After Three (3) outs, any base runners will remain on the bases.

AA-  (Minor League Machine Pitch Division)

1. Teams may start and finish with a minimum of seven (7) players without re-scheduling.
2. If the Machine is struck by a batted ball and remains within the circle, the ball is dead and will be re-played.  If the machine is struck and the ball leaves the circle, the ball shall be considered live.  The player-pitcher will stay within a 10’ radius of the mound while the coach is pitching.  Once the Machine begins pitching to the batter, any balls missed by either the catcher or the player-pitcher shall be declared dead and no runners may advance.
3. Continuous Batting Order will be in effect.  Managers/Coaches shall rotate players from the bench to the field each and every inning.
4. Each Batter is allowed a maximum of SIX (6) pitches to hit the ball into play.  There will be NO Walks.
5. No bunting, no sliding, no stealing, and no infield-fly-rule; fielders may not block home plate to approaching runners.
6. One base on an overthrow of first or third base, runners are subject to put out.
7. Players may continue to advance while the ball is in the outfield, but are subject to the put out. The runners must stop advancing once the ball is returned to the player-pitcher in the pitching circle and has control of the ball.
8. In the event of a Machine malfunction, Coaches are permitted to pitch to their team.
9. There will be a two (2) hour time limit on games and no more than six (6) innings.
10. A runner leaving the base early will be sent back to their original base with no penalty.  If the batter hits the pitch during a declared base running violation, the play is called dead.

AAA- (Minor League Player Pitch Division)

1. There will be a two (2) hour time limit on all games, with no inning beginning after the 2hr mark.  Umpire should alert both coaches at approximately the one (1) hour and 45 minute mark.
2. Open Inning- Only If/When The start of the sixth (6) inning begins (prior to the 2hr time limit), it will be announced as the OPEN INNING, Both Teams are not restricted by the Five (5) run rule.
3. When a player is called up to Majors, the player/parent has 24 hours to advise the Player Agent on their decision to move up to Majors.  If the player declines moving up to Majors, that player will then replace the player that eventually goes to Majors.  Example: Player A plays for Team 1. Player A declines moving up to Majors.  Player B from Team 2 moves up to Majors.  Player A will then be placed on Team 2 immediately.

Major League Division

1.  Ten Run Rule- If the Ten Run Rule is in effect (4.10(e)) then it will be the losing team’s                     decision to continue/conclude the game.

2.  A Manager Must notify the Player Agent when any player misses more than 2 consecutive games for any reason.  If a player is lost from a team, the Manager Must notify the Player Agent within 24 hours, then proceed with the process of selecting a new player.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Junior League Division

No additional special rules for this division

All Star Division

1. The method for selecting Tournament Team players for all divisions will be the same as the method suggested in the Little League Baseball Tournament Rules and Guidelines for the current year.  This method will serve as a guideline.  The All-Star Staff and Board of Directors will have overall say, utilizing input from all Players, Coaches, and Managers.  The All-Star Manager will be selected by the Board and in accordance to the Green Book.  It will then be the All-Star Manager’s selection to choose a second/third Coach to assist him/her with All-Stars.

Click here to find the latest bat information, including the 2012 Little League Baseball rules and regulations governing bats, definition of terms, the moratorium on the use of composite bats, and a series of frequently asked questions, with answers.

If there is a bat-related issue that requires an explanation the answer is just a click away.

You are encouraged to you use this resource, and refer to it often to review the latest information.

It is required that the manager and coach have understanding, patience and the capacity to work with children. The manager and coach should be able to inspire respect. Above all else, managers and coaches must realize that they are helping to shape the physical, mental and emotional development of young people.

The Little League manager must be something more than just a teacher. Knowledge of the game is essential but it is not the only badge of a Little League coach or manager.

While an adult with training and background in the game is a desirable candidate for manager or coach, league screening committees should look for other important qualities. Screening of managers, coaches and others at the local league level who have contact with children is also important in attempting to discover those with a history of child abuse.

The heart of Little League is what happens between the adult manager/coach and player. It is the manager more than any other individual who controls the situation in which the players may be benefited. Improving the level of leadership in this vital area must be a continuing effort.

Children of Little League age are strongly influenced by adults whose ideals and aspirations are similar to their own. The manager/coach and player share a common interest in the game, a desire to excel, and determination to win. Children often idolize their managers and coaches, not because the adult is the most successful coach or mentor, but because the manager and coach are sources of inspiration.

Managers and coaches must be adults who are sensitive to the mental and physical limitations of children of Little League age and who recognize that the game is a vehicle of training and enjoyment, not an end in itself. It has been stated many times that the program of Little League can only be as good as the quality of leadership in the managing and coaching personnel. New leagues particularly, should make a determined effort to enlist the best adults in the community to serve as managers and coaches.

Anyone interested in being a Little League manager or coach should contact their local league president in person, and be willing to undergo a screening process that may include a background check, as well as interviews of those with personal knowledge of your qualifications.

The best way to train and qualify Little League managers and coaches is through the Little League Education Program for Managers and Coaches. A wide variety of materials are available for players and adults, as well as clinics and seminars led by experienced experts. You can learn more about this program by hitting the “back” button on your browser and clicking on “Education Programs.”

Who is responsible for the conduct of the manager and coach? First and foremost, it is the manager or coach themselves. Each of us in Little League must take responsibility for our own actions.

However, as the chief administrator, the president selects and appoints the managers and coaches. As such, no person becomes a manager or coach without the approval of the president. All appointments are subject to final approval by the local league’s board of directors.

Only the local Little League board of directors has the authority to remove or suspend a manager or coach. If a parent or anyone else is dissatisfied with a manager or coach, they must present the issue to the local league president and board of directors. Because the local league president and board of directors are closest to the situation, it would be a disservice if Little League Headquarters became involved in disputes or personality conflicts between managers/coaches and parents.

However, any person who believes that a manager or coach (or any other Little League personnel) is, or has been, violently or sexually abusive to children should report the situation immediately to Little League Baseball International Headquarters as well as to the local police. It is Little League policy that no person who has a history of sexual abuse toward children be given any volunteer responsibilities in Little League. Read more about the Little League Child Protection Program.